Upcoming Events
These are events you can RSVP and purchase tickets for.
Monday Tours - Spring Schedule
Mondays March 24 - May 12 4:00 - 6:00 pm
Dave Petit, Director of Historical Research and Programming, is offering tours of the house and grounds of Colerain Forges Mansion every Monday afternoon. Tours begin at 4:00 and at 5:00.
The tours are free for members, $10 donation for nonmembers. (Membership is $30 for an individual, $50 for a family, so you can do that first and get the tour for free. I'm just saying.)
Simplifying the Landscape: Painting Workshop
Friday, May 9 6:00 - 8:30 Saturday & Sunday, May 10 & 11 9:00 - 4:00
This 2 1/2 day workshop with Colerain Artist-in-Residence Lynn Margileth is appropriate for beginning and experienced painters alike. You'll explore a process of drawing and painting in oil or acrylic that informs how you see value, form, and color in the beautiful gardens and architecture of Colerain Forges Mansion.
Lynn will offer demonstrations in drawing and painting and she will work with each person individually on their drawings and paintings. Class size is limited, so sign up soon!
Shakespeare at Colerain: Much Ado About Nothing
Saturday & Sunday, May 24 & 25 at 4:30 each day
This is our third Shakespeare at Colerain production! As before, the actors will live at Colerain and spend their days rehearsing for the week leading up to the performances, immersing themselves in the characters and themes of the play.
There will be many familiar faces plus a few new ones, with actors traveling from as far as New York, Virginia, Michigan, and Texas to join us!
Monthly History Events
Mondays, June - October
Each month, Dave Petit - Director of Historical Research and Programming - is offering tours of the house and grounds of Colerain Forges Mansion on 1st Mondays, archeology field workshops on 2nd Mondays, and blacksmithing demonstrations on 3rd Mondays.
For more information and to register:
Historical Tours - by appointment only
Archeology Field Workshops - registration required
Blacksmithing Demonstrations - walk-ins welcome, RSVPs appreciated
About Colerain Forges Mansion
The History
The Environment
The Environment
Colerain Forges Mansion was built in the 1780s, with additions by the Ironmaster, David Stewart and his family in the 1830s through the 1860s. The estate includes the mansion and the stone house, built sometime in the 1760s, as well as 10 acres of historic formal gardens, including a boxwood maze, as well as woods and a significant stretch of beautiful Warriors Mark Run.
The Environment
The Environment
The Environment
Warriors Mark Run is a tributary of Spruce Creek, one of central Pennsylvania's premier trout fishing creeks. Our stretch of Warriors Mark Run has been virtually untouched for more than 30 years, preserving a healthy and diverse riparian ecosystem including several rare and endangered species of spring ephemerals. It was recently part of
Warriors Mark Run is a tributary of Spruce Creek, one of central Pennsylvania's premier trout fishing creeks. Our stretch of Warriors Mark Run has been virtually untouched for more than 30 years, preserving a healthy and diverse riparian ecosystem including several rare and endangered species of spring ephemerals. It was recently part of $800,000 grant to improve the entire watershed of the creek working with US Fish & Wildlife, Western PA Conservancy, Trout Unlimited and other partners and is classes as a Class A Wild Brown Trout habitat. If you love fishing please contact us about a possible fishing membership.
The grounds and gardens are available on a limited scale to rent by the day for events that fit within our mission, including history, the arts, wellness, education, and horticulture.
We are hoping to start offering workshops soon on working with historic gardens and native plants in an environment free from chemical pesticides and herbicides.
The Gardens
The Gardens
The Gardens
The Historic Gardens at Colerain are undergoing constant renovations as we work to restore what was here and maintain what we've already preserved. Our latest project is reestablishing the 100 foot perennial border, the pride and joy of John Pekruhn whose family owned the estate from 1943 until 1988. Gardens need constant maintenance fo
The Historic Gardens at Colerain are undergoing constant renovations as we work to restore what was here and maintain what we've already preserved. Our latest project is reestablishing the 100 foot perennial border, the pride and joy of John Pekruhn whose family owned the estate from 1943 until 1988. Gardens need constant maintenance for watering and weeding to dividing perennials and planting annuals and bulbs. If you love gardening, consider becoming a volunteer.
The Arts
The Gardens
The Gardens
Colerain Forges Mansion has hosted musicians, actors and writers, providing a peaceful space that inspires creativity. The mansion has also served as a location for five films and a play. The Colerain Center sponsors an artist-in-residence program where writers, musicians, visual artists, and performers can come and stay in the mansion while working on specific projects.
Lend a Hand: Volunteers Welcome
Volunteer opportunities include helping with events, building trails, removing invasive plants, and restoring gardens. We are also working on the new meditation garden as well identifying archaeological sites for future research.